Take Care of Yourself! | Lifestyle

Hello!

I know, I know. I promised some hauls before I started anything else. I promise you, they will be available when I get the time to take photos, edit them and stuff. 

I just wanted to have a really quick little think with you all about something that I have realised is so important. And that is self care. 

I'm actually really proud of myself already this year because I promised myself I would put my health and other things first if need be, without making excuses and wriggling my way out of things I need to do, and I am doing it! 

Over the past three years, I've not had as much willpower to do so. Although it's nice to be selfless and put everyone else's needs before your own, it can sometimes get unhealthy and damaging. I'm not saying trash everyone else and make the world revolve around you, you, you. Just try and balance your own needs as well.

And if people do start to call you selfish for caring for yourself, they're actually the selfish ones. They want you to care about them, not you.

Does this make sense?

Ways in which I've looked after myself this year may seem really small and pointless but they have done the world of good. My main milestone is getting myself into a healthy sleeping pattern. A couple of years back I was prescribed with some sleep medication because I was getting really sick due to the fact I wouldn't sleep till three in the morning, then woke up at eight in the morning for school. I've been adopting really bad and similar sleeping patterns throughout Christmas because I've been so stressed about putting enough content on my blog, which sounds silly I know, going out at night and stopping at Tom's (If you're reading this, I'm not blaming you, I just get excited to see you!) . So, I've decided to temporarily put myself back on this medication as I have quite a bit of it left over from past years. This is just so I can go to sleep at a decent time and wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed for college and placement.

Trust me, the worst possible thing to do is go into a busy setting full of excited children whilst absolutely knackered! I've actually disciplined myself every night saying 'right you've done enough work now, it's half eight. Have a bath and get your head down'. Honestly, two nights of that strict regime has worked so well.

I've also been going to the gym more because I've been having issues with my self image. No, I'm not getting ill again. I've just put on so much weight over the past year and it makes me really upset. I'm not trying to shame people who are happy with their curves or anything, but everyone has their own desires, don't they? I'd just like to slim down a bit because it will make me happy and confident in myself.  I know it's going to take a lot of work, but Rome wasn't built in a day!

Saying no is also going to be a must. I have a really bad habit of just laughing nervously at people who make me feel uncomfortable, but I'm not going to stand for it now. Whether it's someone invading my personal space or just making a passive-aggressive comment I don't feel is fair, I will learn to politely tell them how I feel and if they don't like that, well that's not my problem anymore.

I've also been the topic of discussion for a lot of old 'friends' recently. This is not a dig at anyone, but I will just give everyone some advice now, that I, myself, am going to follow...

If a friend betrays you and tries to hold a grudge, walk away. If they try to cause trouble in public you have two options, you can smile and wave or just pretend you didn't even see them. Ignoring people isn't a sign of being a coward and 'not saying shit to their face'. It's you being a better person, and them just wanting a bit more attention. 

I had an encounter like this not long ago when I was with my boyfriend and I decided not to say anything because y'know, why should I waste my breath? They're not my issue anymore and I don't hold grudges. I forget stuff almost instantly. Minutes later there was a hoo ha on Twitter about how much of a coward I was because I didn't react or respond to this person. Big whoop. 

If they make constant digs at you on social media, ignore that too. Your response is just going to be a topic of conversation for them and their friends and it will escalate more and more. More and more people will be involved therefore it's likely more and more nasty things will be said and spread. These people are not worth the hassle. 

Education is also a priority for me this year. I've received a lot of crap for not being at university, which I don't really care about because I know a few years down the line I will be happy and in a career I love. That to me, is a lot better than rushing into a degree then discovering I hate the subject I'm studying which is what I was pretty close to last Summer. 

I want to be a teacher more than anything, and people who underestimate me and the course I am studying are just motivating me even more. I'm not just learning how to 'wipe snotty noses', I'm learning how to teach the next few generations of children to be decent human beings and achieve great things through my own planning and experience.

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I hope this post hasn't been too rambled for you all, I just fancied getting some things off my chest. I hope you're all looking after yourselves. Keep your eyes peeled for new posts!

Grace x